While Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey are absolutely crushing it at the box office—proving that movie theaters remain the ultimate draw for global audiences—there is a secondary story not enough people are discussing: the actors and actresses driving these massive numbers.
Here at Flicksnpop, we decided to compile an updated ranking of the top five highest-grossing stars of 2026 based on their combined worldwide box office output to date.
The biggest takeaway? The top spot doesn’t belong to Tom Holland. Instead, Zendaya reigns supreme as the undisputed queen of the global box office—and that is before Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three hits theaters this December alongside Avengers: Doomsday for what promises to be an extraordinary holiday season.
This year has proved that great stories—whether attached to massive intellectual properties or lower-budget indie films—are driving record-breaking crowds. While performers like Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, and Benny Safdie are having incredible multi-hit runs, Holland and Zendaya are occupying a tier of their own.
Top 5 Worldwide Box Office Grosses for 2026 (By Actor/Actress)
1. Zendaya — Approximately $2.90 Billion
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — $1.67B
The Odyssey — $1.11B
The Drama — $105M
Total:~$2.88B5
Zendaya is having a phenomenal year. Not only is she co-starring in two of the highest-grossing cinematic events of the summer (Brand New Day and The Odyssey), but she also delivered a critically praised performance in A24’s mid-budget romantic drama The Drama. Showcasing immense dramatic range across both $200 million IMAX spectacles and $28 million indie projects, her box office reign will only expand when she reprises her role as Chani in Dune: Part Three this December.
2. Tom Holland — Approximately $2.78 Billion
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — $1.67B
The Odyssey — $1.11B
Total:~$2.78B
Despite playing more prominent lead roles as Peter Parker in Brand New Day and Telemachus in The Odyssey, Holland narrowly sits in second place behind Zendaya (thanks to her A24 indie numbers). Still, holding down two concurrent billion-dollar blockbusters at the same time is a historic achievement, proving his unmatched draw as one of modern cinema’s premier leading men.
3. Benny Safdie — Approximately $2.12 Billion
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — $1.01B
The Odyssey — $1.11B
Total:~$2.12B
This is easily the most fascinating inclusion on the list. Safdie—traditionally celebrated for his indie directing work alongside his brother Josh—has quietly assembled a $2 billion-plus acting streak this year. Lending his voice to Bowser Jr. in Nintendo’s animated billion-dollar juggernaut while stepping in front of Nolan’s 70mm IMAX cameras as Agamemnon in The Odyssey, Safdie is proving to be a secret lucky charm for major studio slates.
4. Anne Hathaway — Approximately $1.80 Billion
The Odyssey — $1.11B
The Devil Wears Prada 2 — $691M
Total:~$1.80B
Anne Hathaway is experiencing a major career renaissance in 2026. Between generating Oscar buzz for her performance in Nolan’s epic and returning to her iconic role in 20th Century Studios’ $691 million hit The Devil Wears Prada 2, she has re-established herself as an absolute box office powerhouse.
5. Jaafar Jackson — Approximately $1.02 Billion
Michael — $1.02B
Total:~$1.02B
Rounding out the top five with a single film is newcomer Jaafar Jackson. Portraying his late uncle Michael Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal’s musical biopic Michael, Jaafar’s transformative performance propelled the film past the rare $1 billion global threshold, securing his spot alongside Hollywood’s biggest veteran stars.
Conclusion
The 2026 box office landscape isn’t just recovering—it is setting new post-pandemic standards. While audience interest in pure studio formulas has shifted toward director-driven vision and quality storytelling, performers like Zendaya and Tom Holland are proving that true star power still moves the needle. With major releases still on the horizon for the fourth quarter, this leaderboard is set for even more historic shifts before the year comes to a close.
What do you think about this actor’s or actress’s 2026 box office performance? Let us know in the comments!
